Korean War

The Korean War, 1950-1953, was a conflict between the Republic of Korea (supported primarily by the U.S. and the U.N.) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union).

Korea had been under Japanese control, but, after the Japanese surrender in WWII, the U.S. divided the peninsula along the 38th parallel. The U.S. military occupied the South and Soviet military the North. Skirmishes between the two finally culminated in the invasion of South Korea by North Korea in 1950.

To prevent the spread of communism, the U.S. entered on the side of the South, eventually driving the North Koreans past the 38th Parallel. The U.S. began with infantry attacks and air bombing raids, which destroyed bridges, logistics depots, petroleum refineries, and harbors.

Air-to-air combat also played a large role, as it was the first conflict where both sides employed fighter aircraft. The U.S Air Force dominated the air until the Chinese Air Force introduced its MiG-15s, and flying aces on both sides engaged in impressive “dog fighting.” Meanwhile, spy planes performed dangerous surveillance missions.

The Korean war was characterized by a great deal of back-and-forth on both sides— from the “Gettysburg of the Korean War,” when U.N. Forces stood their ground despite being outnumbered by the North Koreans, to North Korea’s successful “Chinese New Year’s Offensive,” which resulted in the taking of Seoul. This back and forth between the North and South eventually resulted in stalemate.

The active stage of the war ended in July of 1953 with the signing of an armistice, which restored the border near the 38th Parallel and created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The war is considered to have ended at this point, though there was no peace treaty.

In the following fascinating DVD book, further explore the Korean War through video with expert commentary, as well as a full-length book complete with photos, maps, and timelines.